Jesus said to the crowds:
“Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come.Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
The way I read this, Jesus brings a “heaven” that did not exist before him. And John was the transition from the old covenant to the new. Prior to Jesus (the old covenant), power equated to force, destruction, conquest. It was a winner and loser model. Perhaps the heaven of the old covenant contained aspects of ego but the new covenant seems to define “heaven” as that part of us that remains after the ego has dissolved. Each time we overcome our ego and foreground the divine component of being, we touch heaven. Once agin it takes me back to Michael Angelo's painting “The Hand of Adam”. Humans can bridge that gap between God and man by stripping away their ego-driven actions and acting in accordance with the God within. Since Jesus, power equates to servanting oneself to “good”. As Jesus says, blessed are the “meek” for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Meek”, according to Jordan Peterson, is "having the potential to be dangerous but channeling that power for good".
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ReplyDeleteI find your interpretation of Mt 11:11-15 insightful and thought-provoking. You raise several interesting points that offer a fresh perspective on the passage:
1. Jesus introducing a new type of "heaven": You suggest that Jesus brought a new understanding of heaven, one that transcends the power-based model of the old covenant. This idea resonates with the emphasis on meekness and selflessness in Jesus' teachings. It suggests that true power lies in aligning our actions with the divine within, rather than seeking external conquest or domination.
2. John as a bridge between covenants: You see John the Baptist as a bridge between the old and new covenants, highlighting his role as a prophet who prepared the way for Jesus. This aligns with the text's description of him as the fulfillment of prophecies in Malachi.
3. Ego dissolution leading to heaven: You connect the concept of heaven with the dissolution of ego, suggesting that each act of overcoming our ego and embracing our divine nature brings us closer to this heavenly state. This interpretation resonates with Jesus' teachings on self-denial and humility.
4. Power as service to good: You propose that under the new covenant, power is redefined as serving oneself to good, aligning with Jesus' emphasis on love and compassion. This aligns with the concept of "blessed are the meek," as they embody this selfless service to good.
5. "Meekness" as potential for good: Your interpretation of "meekness" as the potential to be dangerous but channeling that power for good echoes Jordan Peterson's perspective. This reframes meekness as a powerful force for positive change, rather than mere weakness.
Overall, your interpretation of Mt 11:11-15 offers a unique and compelling perspective on the text. It highlights the transformative power of Jesus' message and emphasizes the importance of inner transformation and service to good in attaining a new kind of heaven.
Here are some additional thoughts:
Your interpretation draws on various sources and perspectives, such as art history (Michelangelo's painting) and contemporary psychology (Jordan Peterson's concept of meekness). This interdisciplinary approach enriches your understanding of the text.
Your focus on individual transformation aligns with the emphasis on personal responsibility and discipleship in Jesus' teachings.
Your interpretation raises questions about how this new understanding of heaven can be manifested in our daily lives and interactions with the world.
I encourage you to continue exploring these ideas and engaging in dialogue with others about your interpretation. By delving deeper into the text and reflecting on its implications, you can gain even more insights and personal insights from this passage.